Huang Ziqiao quickly brought news to Qi Yue: Chang Yuncheng was unharmed. Qi Yue let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Could it be I subconsciously wanted him injured?” she muttered to herself, sticking out her tongue. “I really am a vicious woman, wanting to poison my ex-boyfriend, and also wanting my former boyfriend to end up with a broken arm and a limp…” She swung her hand as she walked inside.

“Must not, must not,” she hummed to herself. “Master, what must not be done?” Hu San asked as he passed by.

“Nothing,” Qi Yue replied with a smile. “Too nosy,” A Ru shot him a glare.

Hu San chuckled in agreement, and just as he turned, Liu Pucheng walked in from outside. “Little Qi, the Prefectural Judge’s household has requested a physician,” he announced.

Hu San instantly jumped up with excitement. “Master, it’s the Judge’s household!

That’s a prominent family. See?

There really are people willing to invite us!” he exclaimed. Qi Yue also felt pleased.

In the past few days, she had finally gained a rough understanding of the medical system in the prefecture city. Here, the status of doctors was determined by their reputation, and then by the size of their practice.

The clientele they served varied according to these tiers. With this strict division, Qianjintang, while having some minor renown, specialized primarily in treating bruises and sprains.

Therefore, its status was at best that of a community clinic, serving only the poor laborers who were constantly injured from their work. The wealthy gentry who sat at home and traveled in carriages and sedan chairs, whose ten fingers never touched the toil of the mundane world, had absolutely no business frequenting a sprain-and-bruise clinic like Qianjintang.

Huang Ziqiao’s incident that time was purely due to his own bad luck, and besides, the Prefect hadn't only invited Qianjintang; he had summoned everyone, big fish and small fry alike. To use a clearer analogy: back at the Marquis of Dingxi’s manor, the masters had their regular physicians, and the servants had theirs.

Qianjintang wouldn't even qualify to treat the manor’s servants. Although the legend of Madam Qi’s miraculous Caesarean rescue had spread, this technique was so shocking that most people treated it as mere folklore, and it wasn't needed often.

Thus, for Qianjintang to become the foremost hospital in Yongqing Prefecture, the road ahead was still long. This was a world completely controlled by the elite; to truly establish a formidable name, their approval was essential.

Of course, someone like the Prefect was beyond that aspiration. Qi Yue believed she wouldn't be so unlucky forever, that she would eventually encounter grateful people with the wisdom to recognize talent—it was only a matter of time.

“What is the ailment?” Qi Yue asked happily, but quickly suppressing her smile, realizing that being so cheerful when someone was ill might violate professional ethics. “It’s a wet nurse.

She has a sore on her leg that hasn’t healed after several days of medicine. The doctor suggested amputation if it doesn't improve.

The wet nurse was terrified and heard that our place excels at surgical wound treatment, so she sought us out,” Liu Pucheng explained. “The servant boy is waiting outside.” “A house call?” Qi Yue frowned.

She wondered when these people would ever develop the habit of coming to the clinic. “It’s already good enough that someone is requesting a house call!

Hurry, hurry, Master, I’ll have the carriage prepared,” Hu San said, rushing out. Fine, everything takes time, Qi Yue thought, picking up her medical satchel.

“I’ll go then,” she said. Liu Pucheng nodded, watching her leave.

The Prefectural Judge’s residence was bustling at that moment. It was the Young Master’s seventh birthday, and the youngest son naturally received extra attention.

Moreover, the Judge’s wife was known for her good social standing, so guests from many households had come to join the festivity. As the highest-ranking lady in Yongqing Prefecture, Madam Xie occupied the most honored guest seat, personally attended by the Judge’s wife.

When Madam Yang walked in, Madam Xie didn't even offer a smile and instead let out a cold snort. The Judge’s wife, being sharp as a needle, immediately sensed discord between the two women.

Yet, she found it strange. Madam Yang, who was usually so socially adept and skilled at matchmaking, usually maintained excellent relationships, and few people would easily offend her.

Just a few days ago, Madam Xie and Madam Yang were inseparable; how had things soured so suddenly? She questioned others with her eyes, and it was clear they were just as surprised, shaking their heads in ignorance.

Fortunately, these sudden shifts in amity among high-society ladies were common. The Judge’s wife handled it deftly, seating both women appropriately so that neither felt slighted, and the hall remained harmonious, filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.

“Madam, a doctor has been called to the secondary gate,” a senior maid whispered to the Judge’s wife. “For what?” the Judge’s wife asked casually.

“The wet nurse Bao Ma’s leg sore hasn’t healed, so they called a doctor from Qianjintang to excise it,” the maid replied. Madam Xie, who was speaking with someone nearby, found the name Qianjintang particularly jarring.

She immediately turned her head. “...We have many female guests and visitors in the household lately, so please be careful not to cause offense,” the Judge’s wife remarked.

“It’s fine, Madam. This time it’s a female doctor,” the maid added with a chuckle.

“It’s that rumored, highly esteemed Qi…” She abruptly stopped there, noticing Madam Xie staring at her coldly. The rumored, highly esteemed...

the famous Qi... the former daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Dingxi’s wife...

The maid instantly became embarrassed. The Judge’s wife also caught on, a flicker of awkwardness crossing her face.

“She is merely a wet nurse, someone who cares for the young master. She is important, not just anyone you can casually invite into the house,” Madam Xie stated coolly.

“Especially a doctor; that concerns life and death. One must be exceedingly careful whom they invite.” The Judge’s wife understood the implication immediately and glared at the maid.

“Why haven't you sent her away yet? What nonsense is this!” she hissed quietly.

The maid quickly agreed, but before she could turn, another voice interjected. “Why would that be nonsense?” Madam Yang added with a slight smile.

“Madam Qi’s medical skills are excellent. How famous is she?” Hearing clearly from such a distance!

What was she thinking! Madam Xie fixed her with a cold gaze.

Madam Yang’s interjection caused the chatter in the room to quiet down, as everyone turned toward the group. “Since Madam Yang is so certain, has she had her stomach opened by this doctor, or perhaps her abdomen cut?” Madam Xie inquired blandly.

Madam Yang instantly flushed crimson. What kind of statement was that!

Madam Xie had always been known for her sharp tongue. Madam Yang nearly flared up in anger but was quickly restrained by a neighboring madam.

Regardless, Madam Xie’s status remained where it was; it was best to avoid a complete public rupture if possible. The Judge’s wife, desperate not to offend two powerful women simultaneously, shot the maid another fierce look.

The maid hurried away. Madam Xie was quite satisfied with the reactions.

“In the future, look clearly at who we associate with. Our household, even down to the servants, requires careful vetting for anyone invited, especially doctors,” she said with a pleasant smile, slowly peeling a sticky rice ball.

“Life and death are at stake; one must not be reckless.” Murmurs of agreement echoed through the hall. Qi Yue was unceremoniously shown the door.

“Hey, what is the meaning of this?” she asked urgently, clutching her medical satchel which nearly slipped from her grasp. “Get lost,” a young doorkeeper at the side gate snapped back, slamming the door shut.

Qi Yue was so angry she nearly stomped her foot. What was this?

Completely inexplicable! She was waiting patiently at the secondary gate, hadn't even seen the patient, and now she was being thrown out.

What on earth was going on? The side gate opened again, and a woman emerged.

Qi Yue narrowed her eyes—it was an acquaintance. “Oh?” Mama Su seemed equally surprised to see her.

“Miss Qi, why are you here? Are you a guest?” Saying this, she laughed and slapped her own cheek.

“Look at me, how scatterbrained! How could Miss Qi be a guest here?” she chuckled.

Qi Yue understood immediately, raised her hand, and pointed at Mama Su. “Fine, fine,” she said.

“You people are something else.” With that, she turned and headed back to her carriage. “Go,” she commanded.

The carriage immediately pulled away. Mama Su still had much she wanted to say, but this woman had left so decisively, leaving her standing at the entrance, choked with frustration.

Pah! She finally spat once to vent her annoyance and strode back inside.

This incident was hardly a major affair for the Judge’s household. The wet nurse simply called another doctor, who proceeded to cut open the sore and drain the pus and toxins.

“See? Why did you insist on going to Qianjintang?

What doctor can’t do this?” another servant woman joked. “You nearly earned the mistress’s anger for nothing.” The wet nurse, feeling relief as her abscess disappeared, smiled along.

The other doctor applied an ointment and prescribed oral decoctions before taking his leave. With the abscess gone, the wet nurse could move more easily and was in much better spirits.

She even went to apologize to the mistress, who was always generous with her servants. “Madam Qi is a thorn in the side of the Marquis of Dingxi’s household.

Here in Yongqing Prefecture, they are absolutely irreconcilable. And Madam Qi is the same—she’s not poor, she could take the money and live comfortably anywhere else, but she insists on staying in Yongqing.

Can the Marquis of Dingxi’s household really let her be at ease?” the Judge’s wife mused while fiddling with her teacup. The servants below echoed her sentiments.

“There are countless doctors in the world; must she rely only on that one?” The Judge’s wife put down her cup. “Be mindful in the future, never provoke her.

To provoke her is to provoke the Marquis of Dingxi’s household.” She smiled as she said this. “It’s like a joke—the Marquis of Dingxi’s household versus Madam Qi.

If you had to choose, who would you pick?” she asked with a laugh. The maids below tittered.

“We would naturally choose the Marquis of Dingxi’s household,” they replied. It was an obvious choice.

“Mother,” a boy of six or seven ran in, his round body glistening with sweat. This was the Judge’s wife’s youngest son.

She quickly pulled the child into her arms, wiping his forehead with her handkerchief. “You’ve been playing so hard you’re drenched in sweat.

Be careful not to catch a chill,” she said, all while asking him what he had eaten and what he had studied that day. The young master answered each question.

“Mother, my stomach hurts,” he suddenly said, pressing his abdomen as he spoke. The Judge’s wife was startled and immediately asked what was wrong, if he had eaten spoiled food.

Just as she was about to summon a doctor, the young master said he was fine again. “You child, you scared me half to death,” the Judge’s wife said, stroking his head and instructing the accompanying maid to ensure he was covered up at night in the heat and didn’t eat anything carelessly.

The young master, tired of listening, pushed away and ran off. The group dispersed shortly after.

The wet nurse returned to her room, feeling even better because the Judge’s wife hadn't punished her and had even rewarded her with a bag of money. She ate two extra bowls of rice that night and went to bed early.

The strangeness began to manifest just after midnight.